ABOUT
Returning for the first time in two years as a face-to-face event this year, the Women in Insurance Summit is part of Insurance Business NZ’s annual Women in Insurance Summit series.
This powerful event is a critical aspect of our ongoing mission to recognise, celebrate and empower women across the insurance profession. Join us for a transformative day of growth as we discuss practical strategies for success, share career development insights, and build essential skills for professional advancement.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect face-to-face with like-minded professionals, engage in forward-thinking discussions and accelerate your personal development. Be part of the conversation today.
FEATURED SPEAKERS

Helen Fitness
Founder
Quiet Rebel Consulting

Jo McCauley
Chief Executive Officer
Southern Cross Travel Insurance

Lee-Ann du Toit
Partner, National Insurance Lead
Deloitte

Lianne Waru
New Zealand Manager
NM Insurance

Stephanie Wyatt
Senior Commercial Insurance Broker
Cactus Insurance

Tanya Clews
Head of Claims Partnerships and Services
Ando Insurance

Kresh Wright
Head of Life & Health, New Zealand
Swiss Re

Megan Warner
Commercial Leader, New Zealand
Marsh Limited

Dasha Goryacheva
People and Operations Manager
Delta Insurance

Beckie McCleland
Chief Risk Officer
Partners Life

Nancye Maloni
Home Claims Manager
AA Insurance

Bronwyn Kirwan
Chief Sales and Service Officer
Fidelity Life

Sarah-Jane Wild
Head of SME Proposition NZ
Tower Insurance

Gillian Vaughan
Chief Executive
Pinnacle Life
AGENDA
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Opening remarks from the Chairperson
Lee-Ann du Toit
Partner, National Insurance Lead
Deloitte -
OPENING KEYNOTE: Women leading the way – inclusive decision-making
Join Gillian as she discusses how the willingness to be inclusive in your decision-making practices can transform you into a more effective leader. She will share her wins, challenges, and transformative decisions that helped her become the CEO, alongside a predominantly female leadership team. In this session, you will learn how to develop the framework to increase women in leadership – and how to empower others to do the same.
Gillian Vaughan
Chief Executive
Pinnacle Life -
Speed networking
Expand your network, make connections and meet fellow delegates in a structured networking session.
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Morning tea and refreshment break
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PANEL: The future of the insurance sector
From regulatory burdens to climate change, insurance companies are anticipating multiple obstacles as they navigate the post-pandemic recovery. In this session, hear from key industry leaders on some of the most pressing trends that are currently shaping the insurance market – and what you need to know to remain an informed and effective leader today.
- What are the upcoming legislative challenges, and how can you prepare?
- What is the current market and risk appetite in both new and existing businesses?
- Addressing emerging trends in natural disasters and climate risk
- What’s next: anticipating industry changes in 2023 and beyond
Moderator
Lee-Ann du Toit
Partner, National Insurance Lead
DeloittePanellists
Bronwyn Kirwan
Chief Sales and Service Officer
Fidelity LifeSarah-Jane Wild
Head of SME Proposition NZ
Tower InsuranceLuanna Philippe
NZ Claims Manager
Chubb -
Who is driving our future?
Did you know there are more CEOs named John in Aotearoa than female CEOs? Women are not the niche, they are the market. Yet the facts suggest otherwise. Get ready to hold on to your seat as Megan Warner discusses how organisations and individuals can change the story – and, once and for all, be in the driving seat of our industry’s future.
Megan Warner
Commercial Leader, New Zealand
Marsh Limited -
Networking lunch
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PANEL: Getting ahead – accelerating career and skill development
The industry is rapidly changing, and leaders need to be at the forefront to deliver business objectives. How can you ensure you are on top of your game through self-driven learning and development? This session will discuss strategies to develop capabilities and skill sets for career advancement.
- What are the top emerging leadership skills, and how can we develop them?
- How can managers and organisations encourage and prioritise learning and development?
- Overcoming common challenges such as time management, multiple responsibilities and burnout
Moderator
Lee-Ann du Toit
Partner, National Insurance Lead
DeloittePanellists
Dasha Goryacheva
People and Operations Manager
Delta InsuranceJo McCauley
Chief Executive Officer
Southern Cross Travel InsuranceLianne Waru
New Zealand Manager
NM InsuranceStephanie Wyatt
Senior Commercial Insurance Broker
Cactus Insurance -
Dealing with mental wellbeing at an executive level
With competing priorities and stressful working environments, many managers and executives are experiencing various levels of burnout. How can we prioritise wellbeing and create a culture of empathy and support at work? Hear how Kresh has learned to lead by example with self-care, and make mental wellbeing a priority in her daily practice.
Kresh Wright
Head of Life & Health, New Zealand
Swiss Re -
Afternoon tea and refreshment break
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WORKSHOP: Addressing the gender pay gap in the workplace
The gender pay gap exists at all levels in the insurance profession. What steps can we take to increase the likelihood of more successful outcomes? How can we improve the industry’s performance as a whole? This session will discuss strategies to close the gender pay gap in the workplace on both a personal and organisational-level.
- How to prepare for the conversation to get the outcome you want
- Understanding your compensation expectations, incentives, and career progression
- How to promote transparency and advocate change in your company’s remuneration process
Helen Fitness
Founder
Quiet Rebel Consulting -
PANEL: Leading a high-performing team
Building and sustaining an engaged and motivated team can be challenging in today’s uncertain climate and changing work environment. How can leaders develop a strong organisational culture to ensure their teams remain connected and productive? In this session, industry leaders will discuss how to create a collaborative and inclusive culture, from building the business to maintaining it through connectivity and mentoring.
- What do culture, recognition, development and performance look like in a hybrid workforce?
- How does a flexible work policy affect team retention and recruitment?
- Managing and engaging a multigenerational workforce
Moderator
Lee-Ann du Toit
Partner, National Insurance Lead
DeloittePanellists
Tanya Clews
Head of Claims Partnerships and Services
Ando InsuranceBeckie McCleland
Chief Risk Officer
Partners LifeRachael Macdonald
Chief Life Insurance Officer
MAS – Medical Assurance Society -
Event concludes
SPONSORS
Event Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
BARISTA COFFEE SPONSOR
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
ORGANISED BY
VENUE
Hilton Auckland
- Princes Wharf, 147 Quay St Auckland 1010 New Zealand
- +64 9-978 2000
- [email protected]
- Visit website
Why Attend
Enjoy dedicated networking time and get connected with like-minded professionals and insurance leaders
Hear from an all-new speaker line-up featuring inspiring leaders and organisations like AIG and Southern Cross
Discover powerful strategies and insights in research-backed presentations on subjects like industry trends, career advancement and self-care